Chapter 1: Prologue
Chapter 1: Prologue
“What nonsense are you spurting, grandfather?” Isabella asked Don Samuel Morgan, one of the most
powerful business men in the country. “You have abandoned us for 18 years and now you want me to
play family with you?” She sarcastically said.
“This is for you, Isabella.” The Don answered seriously. “And you will benefit from this.”
“What do you mean?” Isabella frowned.
“I had you investigated, Isabella and found out that you have pile of debts because due to your
mother’s hospitalization.” The Don grinned devilishly. “Even if we say that you are now a popular
actress, it cannot still cover your debt.” He added making her clench her teeth.
“It was all your fault, you old man!” Isabella shouted from rage. “If only you didn’t shooed me and my
mom like an animal, things will be different!” She glared at him. “My mother will still be alive if not
because of your selfishness!” She added. “I am still a child back then but I already know that you don’t
want my mom for your son. You want dad to marry someone who is from a wealthy family!”
“I already warned your mother before she married my son, but she didn’t listen to me. I offered her a
fortune but she declined.” The proud Don answered.
“That is because she loves dad too much and not even once she thought of leaving him for money!”
She defended her mother. She knows how much her mother loved her father even until her last breath.
“Your mother is just being practical, Isabella. She must have thought that she can get more money
when she married my son compared to the money I’m offering her.” Don Samuel said.
“You deceitful man!” Isabella shouted at her own grandfather. “Is money all that matters to you? Ha! No
wonder that you have many enemies because of your bad personality!” She grinned. “If you don’t have
any other thing to say, I will go now and please don’t contact me again. This will be the last time that we
will see each other!”
“I heard that you only have four months to pay your outstanding balance.” The Don said when she’s
about to open the door.
“So what?”
“No wonder you’ve been accepting every offer that comes to your way.”
“Your point is?” She raised her brow.
“With my influence, I can easily make your career…”
“Are you threatening me, old man?” She cuts her off.
“I am just stating the fact, Isabella.” He grinned devilishly.
“I can’t believe that your blood is flowing on my veins!” She clenched her teeth. “Whatever you say, I
will not agree playing family to the person who abandoned us in the middle of mourning the death of
my father!” She bravely shouted and leaves his office hoping that this will be the last time she will see
her cold-hearted grandfather.
“Did you do something wrong, Isabella?” Hal, her manager asked when she picked up her phone. She
is enjoying her rest day at her house when her manager called.
“What are you talking about?” She asked still lying on the couch.
“The contract that you will be signing tomorrow…”
“What about it?” She asked curious what is going on.
“You will not be getting the role anymore, Bella.” Hal making her frown.
“What?” She uttered in surprised. “We already had a talked with the producer and director, right? I was
chosen to have the lead role. Why did it suddenly turn out to this? We are only going to sign the
contract the tomorrow.” She asked, confused on what was going on. “Why did I suddenly toss away?”
“I also can’t understand what is going on, Bella.” Hal said. “Wait, I’m having another call…” he said and
disappeared from the line.
Isabella doesn’t know what to think, she really liked to play the role and the story line is great that is
why she agreed to take the role but now… She let out a heavy sigh. This is supposed to be her rest
day but it is more like a stress day. Hal called her again after a few minutes and she immediately
answered it.
“Bella, did you do something wrong or wronged someone?” Hal asked making her think. “Your
endorsements are slowly backing out.”
“What? Why?”
“I don’t know. They are slowly dropping you out and won’t say any reason.” Hal sighed. “I don’t know if
you are aware that recently, there is a big star in a blind item and it says that an influential person is
behind the downfall of the star’s career.” Hal said making her frown. There is only one person that
comes to her mind. “I don’t know if it is just a coincidence but from what is happening to your career
now, I can’t help not to think that it was you. You are having less and less offers, and some
endorsements are dropping you out.”
“With my influence, I can make your career…”
The words of her grandfather keep ringing on her ears.
“…lla! Bella!” Her manager’s voice brings her back to her senses. “Are you still there?”
“Yes, I’m still here.” She sighed. “I think I know who is behind this.” She added.
“Who is it?” Hal asked in full curiosity.
“My grandfather.” She clenched her teeth.
“What? I thought you don’t have any relatives?”
“My grandfather is long dead to me, but he suddenly rises from his grave.” Isabella answered.
“Anyways, I will go and talk to him.” She sighed, as much as possible, she doesn’t want to see and talk
to that old man but now she has no choice. “I’m sorry for stressing you out.”
“Are you okay going alone?” Hal asked, there is a hint of concern on his voice.
“Yes, Hal, don’t worry about me.” She answered. “I will talk to you after I talked to that old geezer.”
“Good morning, ma’am, how can I help you?” The company receptionist asked Isabella. She is at the
old’s man company. She is wearing a sunglass so that people can’t recognize her.
“Is Mister Samuel Morgan here?” She asked.
“Do you have an appointment, ma’am?” The receptionist politely asked.
“None.” She answered. “But I need to talk to him.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but you need to make an appointment before seeing him.” The receptionist said.
“But is he here?” She asked.
“Yes, ma’am.” The receptionist answered and started to be uncomfortable.
“Thanks.” She said and went pass through them.
“Ma’am!” The receptionist was startled when she headed to the elevator. “Ma’am! Wait a moment!” She
shouted alerting the guards.
“What is going on here?” The security approached them.
“Ma’am here wanted to talk to the CEO but she has no appointment.” The receptionist answered.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but please make an appointment first before proceeding.” The security politely said.
“I’m sorry too, but I really need to talk to your boss.” She said, so determined.
“Ma’am, let us not make a ruckus here.” The security warned.
“Don’t you know who I am?” Isabella raised her voice. “I am the CEO’s granddaughter! And if you don’t
want to lose your job, just let me go and talk to my grandfather!” She added, but in reality, she actually
wanted to vomit.
“But—”
“No, buts!” She said firmly. She must need to talk to that old man and if the only way is to say that she’s
his granddaughter even if it against her will.
The security guards are about to grab her when the elevator door opened and Don Samuel’s secretary,
Hugo walks out.
“Let Miss Morgan go.” Hugo said making the guards and the receptionist’s faces gone pale.
“We are so sorry.” They apologized.
“It’s okay.” She answered and dismiss them before turning to Hugo. “I want to talk to the old man.” She
said firmly.
“Certainly.” Hugo said.
“You play dirty, old man?” Isabella barged in at Don Samuel’s office.
“It’s nice to see you again, Isabella.” The Don grinned but she glared at him. “You should be grateful to
me, my dear granddaughter.” He added making her felt a chill down to her spine.
“Grateful?” She mocked! “Oh! Yes! I should be grateful to you for making me lose projects and income!”
She rolled her eyes. “Are you really trying to push me to the corner?”
“Just accept my proposal, my dear granddaughter and you will live leisurely.” The Don said. “Marry
Tyron Cruz!”
“You cold-hearted beast!” She clenched her fist. “How could you do this to me? You’ve abandoned us
for 19 years and now your showing yourself up and wanted me to play family with you? Where were
you when my mother needs your help?”
“I will pay your debt in but you need to marry Tyron Cruz in exchange.” The Don said firmly.
“What for?” She asked. “What are you scheming? I know that the Cruz and Morgans have been
enemies for ages and you want me to marry someone who I don’t even know!”
“Then you choose, my dear. Marry Tyron Cruz and you will live in luxury, your debts will be paid or go
against me and you will be penniless and jobless. It’s only a matter of time and you will lose all your
projects and endorsements.” The Don said firmly and she knew that he’s not joking. “If you choose to
marry Tyron, then I will arrange the soonest for you two to meet.”
“…Can I make a call for a minute.” She softly asked.
“Go on.” The proud Don answered and lean on his chair. Isabella didn’t spare a moment and called her
manager. “Hal, can you please check my schedule if I still have a vacant this week?”
“You don’t have any vacant for this week, Bella. But for next week…” Hal sighed and she already knew
what she meant. She has no scheduled work for next week.
“Okay…” She sighed.
“I will see what I can do, Bella.” Hal said.
“It’s okay, Hal. Please just leave the week after next week blank. I have an important matter to attend.”
She said.
“If you say so…” Hal said, concerned is hinted on his voice. “But please don’t do anything reckless.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t.” She answered before cutting of the call. She let out a heavy sigh and looked at
her grandfather who is listening. “Will you really cover the debt?” She asked.
“Yes.” The Don said. “So, what is your decision?”
“Fine. I will marry Tyron Cruz, whoever he is.” Isabella answered making the Don grinned from ear to
ear.
“Good. You can’t back on your word now, Isabella.” The Don said. “I am putting two conditions on the NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.
marriage. One, your wedding will cannot be annulled, but if you two decided to separate, all of his
wealth and properties will go to you.” The Don said making her eyes wide open.
“What kind of condition is that?” She cannot help not to shout at the old man. “All these years, I really
resented you for abandoning us but my mother still respected you and even told me not to hate you but
from what you’re doing now… I don’t regret hating and resenting you!”
“But you cannot refuse this offer, my dear, and you know that.” The Don said.
“Hah! I doubt, Tyron will agree with it.”
“He will jump at the chance if I lure him with what they’ve been wanting for.” The proud Don said
grinning. “My company—Morgan Industries!”
“You devil!” She cursed but the Don just laughed.
“Condition two, he must give his wife suitable amount of money each week!” The Don said making her
catch her breath.
“You…you monster!” She shouted making the Don laugh. She already knew what that means, the
money Tyron will give her is what she’s going to use to pay off the debts.